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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The château de la Bourlie, mentioned in 1459 as "la Borrelia", is a former noble den located in the commune of Urval, Dordogne. This site, initially defensive, illustrates the evolution of seigneurial houses in Black Perigord, marked by major architectural transformations in the following centuries. Its location, south of the village, makes it a witness to the medieval aristocratic occupation in this region of southwestern France.

In the 18th century, the castle underwent a metamorphosis to become a pleasant residence, with the addition of terraces opening the facades and the development of a garden structured in three parts. These changes reflect the influence of the architectural modes of the era, where the strong castles give way to more open houses on their environment, symbols of the refinement of the provincial aristocracy.

The 19th century saw the contribution of Marie-Amanda Blanche de Commarque, passionate about botany, who designed a landscaped park harmoniously integrating into the surrounding natural landscape. This project is part of the romantic trend of the century, where gardens become spaces of contemplation and horticultural experimentation. The estate, thus enriched, embodies the synthesis between medieval heritage and aesthetics of the Enlightenment.

Protected as historical monuments since 1973 (facades and roofs), then in its entirety in 2005 (castle, commons, park and gardens), the château de la Bourlie is today a preserved example of the evolution of noble residences in New Aquitaine. Its inscription reflects the heritage value of its architecture, as well as its exterior spaces, reflecting the tastes and know-how of three distinct periods.

The three successive families who occupied the area left their mark, adapting the area to the needs and modes of their time. This historical stratification, visible in the defensive structures of the 15th century as in the landscape arrangements of the 18th and 19th centuries, makes it a site representative of the perigordin nobility, between medieval heritage and modernity.

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